For what would be the fifth game in a row, Sinker Mitch has relied more heavily on his Four seam than his Sinker.
In his previous start against the Milwaukee Brewers, when he struck out ten batters, he threw his Sinker (17.1%) at it’s lowest usage since July 16th (3.2%), which was most likely an anomaly due to Colorado’s elevation. This time around he had a rather even spread in his 100 pitches of Four seam (30%), Slider (27%), Sinker (25%), and Curveball (16%), with two Changeups mixed in.
Against the New York Mets last night, Keller lasted six shutout innings allowing five hits, two walks, and only struck out two batters. He induced eight groundballs (leading to two double plays) and one flyout. With the extra day of rest, the offense decided to show up and back Keller.
Kevin Newman got things started with single in the second inning after one out. He moved to third on a Jack Suwinski single before scoring on a Michael Chavis sac fly.
With Keller throwing up goose eggs the Pirates didn’t wait long to add on to their total. In the third inning with one out, Bryan Reynolds walked on four pitches and then Rodolfo Castro connected for his sixth homerun on the season to make it a 3-0 game. The six homeruns is a new high for Castro after hitting five homeruns in his abbreviated 2021 MLB stint.
The Pirates offense took a break in the fourth inning but would add on in the fifth with a Reynolds single knocking in Oneil Cruz, who had doubled for a 4-0 lead.
Robert Stephenson came on for the seventh inning after Keller left with a 4-0 lead. He promptly struck out the first two batters. Each on five pitches after starting out both counts down 2-0. He’d then go down 2-0 on James McCann, but McCann was able to single to left field bringing up Brandon Nimmo who connected on a 3-1 fastball to center field for a two-run homerun to cut the lead in half. That would be all for Stephenson with Manny Banuelos coming in to replace him.
Banuelos has gotten back on track, after giving up four runs to the Cincinnati Reds back on August 21st, by throwing 7.2 innings with only one unearned run allowed. On Tuesday night he kept it up with throwing another 1.1 scoreless innings. Over that time — including Tuesday evening — he’s only struck out three batters, but also only given up three hits along with one walk.
With a 4-2 lead going into the bottom of the eighth, the offense wanted to add a little more insurance. Ke’Bryan Hayes lead things off with a single and then a steal of second, his 15th stolen base of the season on 19 tries. Hayes then moved to third on a Newman single with Newman also moving up to 2B on the throw. After a Suwinski strike out Hayes was able to score on a wild pitch to Chavis that bounced off the catcher and almost back to the mound with Newman moving to third. Chavis ended up striking out, but Jason Delay wouldn’t leave the runner stranded by singling to left field and increasing the lead back to four runs.
That would bring Oneil Cruz up to bat with two outs and a runner on first base. In a 3-2 count Cruz connected on a Curveball on the inside corner with another patented “That’s either a double or a lineout” swing turned home run. The ball left the bat at 113.4 MPH (per Baseball Savant) and cleared the Clemente Wall bleachers on a line for a two-run homerun and an 8-2 lead.
Wil Crowe was tabbed for the ninth and made quick work of the first two batters setting them down on five pitches total. Crowe then ran into some trouble unable to finish off the next two batters and would walk them for two on and two out before getting Nimmo to ground out on the first pitch he saw.
Another losing streak ended, and Mitch Keller matches his career high with his 5th victory. The five wins matches Wil Crowe and Dillon Peters for the team lead while also giving him his team leading 4th victory as a starter.
Mets @ Pirates
Game One Time: 12:35 PM EST
Pirates Starters: Duane Underwood Jr. (2-8, 6.12)
Mets Starters: Chris Bassitt (12-7, 3.32)
Underwood Notes: This will be Duane Underwood Jr.’s first career start in a Pirates uniform and his first MLB start since 2018. He will be pitching on two days rest after pitching on back-to-back days, so he is unlikely to go very deep into the game, even if efficient. The Pirates can’t call up another pitcher so I’d say it’s an interesting choice going bullpen game for the first of two. Bryse Wilson and Johan Oviedo were originally mentioned for the two starters, so one may piggyback off of Underwood.
Game Two Time: 6:35 PM EST
Pirates Starters: Johan Oviedo (2-1, 2.86)
Mets Starters: Jacob deGrom (4-1, 1.98)
GAME ONE LINEUPS:
Pirates
The first of two today.#LetsGoBucs pic.twitter.com/bHzawd7DMg
— Pittsburgh Pirates (@Pirates) September 7, 2022
Mets
Let’s play ✌️. #LGM
UPDATE: Pirates make two waiver claims today. Game two lineups will be posted once they are available. Pirates lost game one 5-1. If you somehow missed it, Josh VanMeter is gone.
GAME TWO LINEUPS:
Pirates
Game 2 on deck.#LetsGoBucs pic.twitter.com/Y3SDhG61lm
— Pittsburgh Pirates (@Pirates) September 7, 2022
Mets
Game two starters. #LGM
